Course description
Course overview
Air transport engineering is essential for the safe and effective operation of aircraft. Graduates work in all areas of the air transport industry, including airlines, maintenance organisations and airports; focussed on operations and engineering. Areas covered include the global air transport strategy, the design of aircraft and systems to meet diverse operating requirements, flight safety, reliability, maintenance, regulation and economics.
Course content
Year 1
Year one is common to all our MEng and BEng courses in aeronautics and air transport and is designed to give students a thorough grounding in the subjects appropriate to the formation of an engineer. Subjects include:
• Engineering laboratory
• Engineering drawing and design
• Manufacturing methods
• Electrical engineering
• Engineering management
Each student is required to take part in an oral presentation at the end of the year as part of a team effort in trying to find solutions to problems that may occur in businesses and industries.
Year 2
The second year is common with the Aeronautical Engineering degree. Laboratory classes are undertaken in all appropriate subjects, which are designed to build on year one and put increasing emphasis on core aviation-related skills. In the first term of design, students are split into specialist groups given the job of, for example, “stretching” or “shrinking” a current Airbus design. The course also involves the students in writing an extended essay on a topic assigned to them from list drawn up by staff.
Year 3
Year three sees students taking four core modules that are specific to Air Transport Engineering, plus additional optional subjects to suit their personal areas of interest. The important integrated group design subject is common with the Aeronautical Engineering course.
Final year modules include:
• Air transport operations
• Avionics and control
• System reliability and safety
• Business aircraft operations
• Maintenance planning
• Maintenance technology – using our own ground training aircraft
• Gas turbine engineering
• Aero design
Year 4
Students with the desire to achieve MEng standard, will progress in their fourth year to a number of specialised modules to further enhance their skill base. In addition, they undertake a more detailed individual project spread over both years three and four.
Teaching and assessment
Teaching
Teaching and learning strategies are designed to encourage independent study and teamwork, creativity and critical thinking. Methods include lectures, tutorials, group design and laboratory sessions and field trips. The overall approach is to combine analytical, experimental and group interactive teaching and learning techniques to help students gain knowledge and understanding and to develop practical and communication skills.
Courses are reviewed regularly and new courses are developed which respond to the priority needs of the engineering market place and meet the requirements of the Engineering Council and the relevant professional accrediting bodies.
Assessment
Assessment is by means of coursework, classroom tests and examinations. Group learning, teamwork and communication skills are assessed through design group studies, reports and presentations. Practical and technical communication skills are assessed through laboratory work, data analysis and project reports.
